US1757099A - Dough divider - Google Patents

Description

. F. STREICH DOUGH DIVIDER May 6, 1930.

Filed July 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 11111111111111"! III I I f 1 i a j 1/612 for: flan irJ irez'ck y 19307 STREICH 1,757,099

DOUGH DIVIDER Filed July 29, 1929 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 v Z/ z/e1i for; flax/27v QT 17291272,

Patented May 6, 1 930 UMTED STAT S Parent oFFIcE '3 FRANK sTREIoH, or donate, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION MAoII NE vcotrPAJSIY,

' or JOLIE'I, ILLnIoIsn CORPORATION or ILLINOIS Q JQUGH mvmn v fApplication filed July 29,

.A dough divider of this type is more fully shown and described-inmy prior patent on dough dividers, No. 1,599,805, issued November, 3, 1925, to which reference is hereinafter made.

The principal obje ct of the present invention is the provision of novel means for regulating the amount of dough taken'into the dough receiving chamber. In the type of machine forming the subject matter of this spe cification, the capacity of the .measurmg pocket may be altered for the purposeof accuity.

rately measuring the quantity of dough for I loaves: of bread or buns of various sizes or weights. To enable the correct amount of dough, or substantially the correctamount to be taken into the dough receiving chamber from the hopper, provision must be had for varying the amount so as tocorrespond with that forcedinto the measuring pocket. In the past, considerable.difficulty-has been encountered in handling soft and hard dough,

and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide means by whichhard and soft dough may be handled with, equal faciL lVith these and othe'rlobjects and advan tages in view, this invention consists in a" i dough divider havingmeans for regulating the size of "the opening or passageway between the hopper and the dough receiving chamber andwhich isusually controlled by a member termed a knife; It further conssists in the provision of regulatingmeans interposed between the knife 7 actuating means and knife to thereby. vary the backward or opening movement of the-knife without vary I ing the forward or closing movementthereof. i It further consistsina dough divider in-which regulatable means are provided for the knife and for theplunger which charges. thedough into the measuring-pocket, here-v by' the amount of dough taken into the re- ,ceiving chamber may be varied-to correspond 1929, 1 Serial No. 381,769.

with the amount forced into the measuring pocket I Thefinventiomfurther consistsin the sev; eral novel features of construction, arrange- I parts hereinafterq ment and combination of fully set forth. 7 v. w r {The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification in which V V Flgllllls avlew, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical longitudinal section,

through a dough divider embodying a simple form ofthe present invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmental viewof the dough 7 handling mechanism illustratedin Fig. 1, but showing the parts in a different position; Fig. 3 is a 'fragmental end elevation looking in the direction 'ofthe arrow 3 in Fig.

of which is sjupp'orteda hopper 6 in which-the dough is receivedfro'm a'place located above the machine. Below the ,hop'per'is a dough receiving chamber 7, usually rectangular in cross section, in which reciprocates a chargmg plunger '8 which forces the dough from the recelvlng chamber 7 into the measuring pocket, hereinafterdescribed, andjcompresses y .it therein. Between the hopperfi and the receiving chamber 7 is an opening 9 through which the dough pas'ses'from the hopper to the receiving chamber, andsaidopeningi) is fcontrolled by a flat plate 10', hereinafter called knife, which reciprocates back and forth "above the plunger 8 and opens and closes the opening 9. The receiving chamber 7 is formed in a horizontally disposed member 11 which is "bolted or otherwise secured to the r me' At the discharge end of the receiving chamber 7 is a measuring pocket l2 which: is formed-in amovable head 13, here shown as slidably mounted in guides 14 carried by the frame of the machine. For the purpose of discharging the dough from the measuring pocket 12, the head 13 is 'reciprocated in a vertical direction after the dough has been charged into the pocket. o.

An ejecting plunger 151is slidably mounted in the measuring pocket 12 and form'san' adjustablewallfor one end of the pockets The usual adjustment mechanism 16 is provided for the" plunger 15, which mechanism contains an abutment plate 17 against which a roller 18, carried by, the ejecting plunger l5,bears when the dough is being charged into the measuringpocket. I An adjustment stud '19' tl'1readed in the support of the adjustment means is provided as usual, for adjusting the i abutmentplatel'l to varythe capacity of the 'ineasuring pocket 12, as islwell understood.

-Actu'ating' mechanism is provided for the dough handhngmembers above described, and in thetype of mach ne described, said mechanism is operated'fro-ni a main shaft" 20 I journaled'in suitable bearings mounted onthe frame of the machine Usually the actuating mechanism for the plunger 8compr1ses an operating lever 21", carried by a shaft or rod 26, and-connected at its;upper end tothe plungerby ali'nk; 22 and receiving its mo-- 7 tion fromja suitably shaped cain 23 mounted on" the drive-shaft 20. The lever 21 carries a roller 24 which travels in the cam groove of the cam 23, as is customary. As a' preference, said lever 21 is formed of jointed arms 1 21 and 21", formed witlrstop shoulder 21 and 21 and providedlwitlr a compression spring 25 between the two arms for obtalnlng v a cushioning effect upon the dough when compressing the same, as is customary. Theshaft 26 upon which the operatinglever 21 is carried is omou-nted'in the frame of the machine. An operating'lever 27 also carried by the shaft 26 and connected at its upper end to the knife by a link 28-reciprocates said knife in timedrelation to the m'overr'ients'of the plunger 8. 'Acam 29 mounted upon the main drive shaft and cot-operating with a roller 30 carried by the operatingilever 27 serves .toooscillateithe lever 27 andctherewith reciprocates the knife 10 in timed relation to the movements of the plungers 8.] V

A. lever 31 also carriedby the shaft 26 and I ,co-operating' with a canron the drive shaft 20, reciprocates theheadlg in timed relation to the movements oftheplu'nger 8,, The. lever Blis oonnectedto the headl13 a link 32am V be" provided with a counterweight '33 to;

facilitatethe operation of the head 13. i a V a -An arm 34, mounted on a rod 35 connected to the operatinglever 27 by a link' 36, is provided for moving the ejecting plunger '15 adirection to discharge the measured hunps of dough'fro m the ineasuringpocket 12, and

I saidrnechanism timed to move the ejecting plunger when the head reaches the lower limit of its travel. A" conveyor belt 37,. I

trained around a roller 38, carried by the frame of the machine, is provided for receiving the lumps of dough after being discharged from the measuring pocket 12 and carrying them away to other mechanism for subsequent operations. a

As in the machine of the patent above referred to, suitable mechanism-may hep-1o a vided for dividing thelump of dough measuredin the pocket 12 into individual lumps,v

bllli' ilSi'tlllS mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it will not be described in detail. The mechanism thus far described is substantially the same as that shown and de- I As has been set forth above, the capacity of the measuring pocket 12rmay bevaried to receive the'requiredarnount of doughforjthe "manufacture of loavesof bread or'bunsof' scribed-in the pr or patent above referred to. I c

various-sizes or weights. mien the capacity,

com-esnecessary to vary theamountof dough taken into the receiving chamber 7, and in or-.' der toaccomplish this, means are provided for' varying the size of the opening 9 between the hopper 6 andgre'ceiving chamber 7, which will now be described;

or the measuring pocket is? changed, it be-; f I

Regulatablelost motion' means are 'provid edbetweenthe operating lever- 27 and the knife 10' whereby the backward movement of said knife in uncovering the opening 9 bc- 7 tweenthe hopper 6 and receiving chamber 7 may be varied without varying the forward movementof'the knife inw closing said openlng. In theform of the invention illustrated :theupperend of the operating lever 27 is jointed as at 39, thereby providing an arm 40 which may havea limited'amount of lost;

'motion when the operating lever 27 is moved in the direction to uncover the opening 9.

The main portion ofthe lever 27 is vformed i with stop-shoulders 41 projecting laterally from the sides of the lever, and the arm 40 has a bifurcated extension 42 on the oppositerside of thejoint with the main portion of the lever27 which extension is arranged to abut against the stopshoulders 41 whenever thelever 27 is moved in the direction to 'close the opening 9. Adjustable means are provided for permitting movement of the extension 42 of the ar'm40 away'from the stop shoulders 41 through'a limited-extent,

atinglever 21 and the plunger Sjmay he formed with regulatable lost motion vmeans similar ctof that shown in; connection with the operating lever 27., Inv the drawing, the upper end ofthemember 21 of the operat- *inglever' 21' shown as provided with an dough, contained in the receiving; chamber 7, has been chargedinto the pocket 12, the

head l l is'moved' down and the dough dlS-l charged fromthe pocket, and before the head 13 reaches the upperllimiuof the stroke, the

plunger and knife are'moved-backwardby the cam mechanism topermit the chamber 7 to receive another charge, the knife '10 uncovering or partially uncovering the opening 9, depending upon theca dju'stment of the regulating means for varying the backward stroke of theknife 10. 1 1 1. r Asshown in the drawings, the pin 43 is placed in the uppermost hole'tikof the op-f crating leverQT, and, as a result,iwhen the in operating lever 27 is moved backwards, the joint 39 between the malnportion ofthelever 27 and .arm 40 permits the upper end of the mainpart ofthe lever 27 to move? through a limited distance without'effecting the movement of theknifealfl, and during said movement of the' lever 'i, it swings the armeo upon its pivotal connection with thei link 28 until the extension 42 of the armjr iO engages with the pin 43, whereby the furtherlmovement of the operating lever 27 inovesthe arm 40 bodily with it, thereby retracting the knife 10. Because of thelost motion connection betweenthe operatinglever 27 and knife 10, the knife is moved through a'lesser distance than it would be if the operating lever were connectedto the link 28 without any lost motion between them. In Fig. 2,- the, operating lever 27 iso-s'hown at the limit of its backward stroke, the knife be ing only partially retracted, whereby the size .of the opening 9 has been reduced considerably.

backward or suction stroke of the plunger 8, a lesser amount of dough will be-taken into the receiving chamber 7 thanif the opening 9 were completely uncovered. The siaeof the uncovered portion of the opening s regulated by plac ng the pm 43 in the proper hole at in the lever 27, thus regulating the amount 7 of, dough taken into the dough receiving chamber to correspond with the amount charged into the measuring pocket. I

the operating lever; 21 for the plunger" 8, the backward movement or suction stroke of 'the plunger may'bevaried and-variouspredetermined quantities of dough" canthereby betaken into the receiving chamber 7 "so as to correspond tothe amount requiredto be It will be seen, therefore, thatduring the herein, ,7

forced .in'toithe'measuring pocket 12. By

providing'the regulating meansygfor the plunger, asrwell asiforthe knlfe, thequan tity of dough taken into the receiving cham-v ber may be varied with considerable -accuracy- It will be understood-that the'size of the uncovered openingf), is regulated to correspond with the: adjustment; made in" the measuring pocket 12 andthat when the measuring pocket is adjusted to; receive a large lump, the size of the uncovered opening 9 is increasedto correspond with the capacityiof the measuring pocket,

-During the backward movem'ent f the plunger .beyond'theiforward edge of; the knife,a partial vacuum 'isproduced inthereceiving chamberj l which facilitates move 1 ment ofzthe dough from the hopperinto said I'BCGlVlIlg chamber, and when operating on heavy dough, it is of'importance thatconsiderable;suction'pbegapplied in the receiving chamber to bring the'full. amount of; dough intoit. 'To thisend the regulatable means are I providedbetweenthe plunger and its operat ing lever, whereby the suction stroke ,of the plunger 'may be .increasedrelative' to the backwardstroke of theiknife to therebyenablethe receiving chamberto take in a preused on rlightidough the vacuum required is not so high and,.consequently, theregulating device. is set accordingly.

lt willibe observed that the knife "i0 Gear's the plunger .8 at all times, thereby preventing" -doughflfrom lodging upon the uppersurface of the plunger whenbeing admitted toethe dough receiving chamber@ The upper face of the iplunger ijs, thereforepkept free from dough which would otherwise interfere with formof theIconstructionshown and described, but, intend, in the following claims, to point out all ot the invention disclosed v I claim-as and desire to see L terse Patent a 1. In a dough divider, thegcombination of a hopper,.a dough receiving chambcropen ing thereto, regulatable means for cont-rolling determined full charge of dough. gWhen the size of theopening betvveenthe hopper and doughfreceiving chamber, aQ-member havmgameasurlng pocket adapted' to receive dough" from said receiving chamber,

means for regulating; the capacity of said When the regulating means is provided in V measuring-pocket, a plunger -adaptedto operate in the v.dou ght recei'vinga chamber and 7 adapted on its rearward stroke'to: draw dough 2. In a dough dividenthe combination of a hopper, 'a'dough receiving chamber opening thereto,'a movable plate controllingthe opening between the hopper and dough re- .c'eiving chamber, means. foractuating said plate,1ncludmg regulating means for varying the length of stroke of said plate, a memher having a measuring pocket, a plunger in said receiving-chamber, andmeans for actuating said plunger. i 3. In a dough divider, the combination of a hopper, a dough receiving chamber communicating therewith, amovableplate for covering and'uncoveringthepassage between the hopperand dough receiving chamber, plate actuating mechanism IIIChICllIlglBglllatable means for varyingthe backward movement of theplate, a memberhaving a measuring pocket, a reciprocable plunger-in said dough receiving chamber, 'a lever for actuating the plunger-, anc l means for mov-' ing-the lever.-- a 4; Ina dough divider, the combinationof ahopper, a dough'receiving chambercommunicating-therewith, a reciprocable knife for controlling the passage between the hopper and dough receiving chamber, a knife ac tnating lever, there being regulatable means between said lever and knife for varying the backward stroke of "the knife,- a' plunger in said dough receiving chamber, and means for operating said plunger.

5'. In a dough divider, th'e'combination of a hopper,-a dough receiving chamber communicating therewitlna reciprocable' knife controlling the passage between the hopper and dough receiving chamber, :akn'ife actuating municating therewithfa knife for control-- ling the passage between' said hopper and dough receiving-chamber, an-operatinglever connected to said knife and having a omted arm 'ca-pable of a limitedamountf'of lost moltionfa-nd stop" members for limiting :the

amount of lost motion, one ;of said stop; membe-rs being adjustably mounted V s. In 'dmlgh' divider; thejcombination er a hopper, a d'ongh receiving -chamberxcomr ni'unicating therewith, a knifecontrolling the passage between said hopperand dough I receiving chamber, knife opera-ting mechanism,1.ineluinga lost motion" element for city of said pocket;

varying the length of a stroke-0f said knife, a plunger in saidvdough receiving chamber, vplunger actuating mechanism, a member having a dough measuring pocket, and means-for varying the capacity of said pocket.

In a dough divider, the combination of a hopper, a dough receiving chamber communicating therewith, a knife for controlling the size of the opening between said hopper and dough receiving chamber, knife actuating mechanismincluding means for varying the stroke of $3.161 knife, a plunger In said :dough receiving chamber, plunger actuating means, a vertically reciprocable member having a dough measuring pocket therein, and means for varying the capacity of said measuring pocket. r V

10. In adough divider, the combination of dough measuringpocket, means for varying the capac ty ofysald pocket, a =rec1procable plunger in sald 'dough rece ving chamber, "a

leverfconnectejd to said plunger and formed with a'j'ointedjarm havinga limited amount of lost motion whereby the backward'stroke of the plunger may bevaried without vary ing the forward stroke thereof. H

1 1. In a douglidivider, the combination of a hopper, adough receiving chamber com municating therewith, a member l having a measuring pocket, means for varymg the capacity of said measurlngpocket, a knife for and dough receiving chamber, a plunger reciproca-ting in said chamber, operating mechanism for said knife, andfope'ratingmechanism for said plungeflboth including lost motion elements, whereby the backward strokes of the knife and plunger may be varied of. a r v 12. Ina dough divider,.a knife for controlling thepassage betweena' hopper and a dough receiving chamber, an operating lever for said knife, and a link connecting said operating lever with said knife, said operating lever havinga jointedmember provided with a regulatable amount of limited'lost motion. 13."In a dough divider, the combination bf a hopper,a doughreceiving chamber comahopper,a dough receiving chamber commun1cat1ng:therew1th,- a member having 'a v controlling the opening betweenthe hopper without varying the forward 'strokes'theremunica'ting therewith, a knife for .controlling the size ofthe opening betweensaid hopper and dough receiving chamber, knife actuating. mechanism includingmeans for varying the backward stroke 'of theknife, a

. plunger in said dough receiving chamber,

plunger actuating mechanism including means for varying thevback strokeof the .p1 n beyond the opening controlled by the knife,a member having a'dough measun' ing pocket, and-means for varying the capa- '14. In a dough divider, the combination of a hoppega doughreceivingfchamber com- 7 r 9 for varying theamount of vacuum produced municating therewith, a knife for controlling the size of the opening between said'hopper land dough receiving chambenknife actuating mechanism, regulating means between the knife and knife actuating mechanism for V varying the backward stroke of the.knife,'a I plunger in said dough receiving chamber,

' plunger actuating mechanism, and'regulating means between said plunger and its actuating mechanism for varying the backward strokeof the plunger beyond the opening uncovered by the knife, whereby the suction created by said backwardmovement oi the knife beyond the openingmay be varied.

V 15. In a dough divider, the combination of n a dough receiving chamber having a regulatable inlet opening, a regulatabledoughmeasuring pocket, a plunger reciprocating in said dough receiving chamber and operating to create a partial vacuum therein, and means illroportion to the size of th r l t inlet opening. a r v FRANK :STREICH.

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